Enjoy this free case study outlining five main tips for growing your brand's social media presence in 2024. Tip 1: Define Your Audience and Niche Identifying your target audience is crucial. Use social media analytics tools to gather data on your current followers and segment them based on demographics, interests, and behavior. Instagram and Facebook ( Meta ) has a endless amount of information on your audience (yikes)... Tip 2: Consistent High-Quality Content Invest in quality. In 2024, prioritize creating visually captivating, engaging, and value driven content. Utilize high quality images, professionally produced videos, and captivating graphics. Consistency is key; establish a content calendar to maintain a regular posting schedule, again Meta has a good calendar to use for scheduling content, but sites like loomly take it to the next level (paid). Tip 3: Embrace Emerging Platforms and Features Ya ya I know I'm not a fan of having to take on yet ANOTHER platform too. BUT platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, Youtube, can provide a fresh audience and engagement opportunities. Research, experiment, and adapt your content to suit these platforms. (Hint: The audiences you reach are different) Tip 4: Engage and Build Community Engagement is the heart of social media growth. Respond to comments, messages, and mentions. Encourage discussions through posts, and overall bring value to your audience. Going Deeper: Not All Of Your Audience Is The Same: Some people might just enjoy what you post, some will never take action on your offering. Post a wide variety of content that can reach each stage of your audience down to the buyer. User-Generated Content: Encourage your followers to create content related to your brand. Repost and celebrate user-generated content to build brand loyalty. Storytelling: Craft compelling narratives that resonate with your audience. Share behind-the-scenes stories, customer testimonials, and success stories to connect on a deeper level. PS: Hire a good production company to tell your story even more effectively. Consistent Branding: Maintain a cohesive brand identity across all social media platforms, from profile pictures and cover photos to the tone of voice and messaging, to websites and beyond. Tip 5: Leverage Your Following What has worked in the past? Where do you want to go? Ultimately, it is your business. Your vision. There is no right and wrong, but there are ways you can help to make your business grow. Make 2024 one of those years. Written by Devin Sawtelle Founder of Reel Tales

Brook Trout Fishing in New Hampshire’s White Mountains Taking a trip to the White Mountains to fish is something Devin and I have done quite a few times over the past year. Once our home waters of Southern New Hampshire heated up for summer (limiting our access to safely catch trout), driving up to the Kancamagus highway on a whim to chase 5 inch native Brook Trout became a regular occurrence for us. No matter when we would arrive to the clear, cold, spring fed streams, there was one guarantee, fish would be caught. The Brook Trout found in these streams are not the type one would go throwing up on the wall and brag to their friends about. A big Trout in these waters is often considered a trophy at 10 inches. That being said, its never the size that matters; whether it's a 2 inch trout or an 8 inch trout, each one holds a unique beauty that makes you keep casting for more. The red dots that are encircled by light sky blue tones found on each Brook Trout encapsulates the true artistry that nature has to offer. A hand sized brook trout caught in a White mountain's stream The spring fed streams tucked away in the Whites are all one of a kind as are the fish found in them. Some streams have crystal clear gravel bottoms and large granite boulders where the trout may appear more tan. Other streams may have dark mossy bottoms and dense foliage covering them making the trout appear darkened, almost as if they've been brushed with charcoal. Aidan casts into the pool beneath the log jammed stream Many of the streams we have fished hold no name. They are found along trails, on the side of unmarked roads or deep in the woods. Getting to explore these watersheds, jumping from granite boulder to boulder, scurrying up and down logs instills a sense of excitement. A feeling that one gets as a child when everything is so new and thrilling. I must warn that fishing these mountain streams can lead you down the rabbit hole of exploration and pushing yourself to see what pools may be hiding around the next bend. I'll often find myself saying: "maybe that pool up there holds a creek monster, I'd better check it out." Before you know it you will have gone two miles up stream, the sun will be setting and the mosquitos will come out showing no mercy. But none of that seems to matter as the adventure into unfamiliar territory exposes the the beauty of the true wilderness, and makes you appreciate what is out there to be explored. A "trophy" Brook Tout caught with a "stimulator fly" in a White Mountain's Brook Next time you find yourself in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, don't forget to pack your rod, ideally a 2-4 weight and a hand full of "Stimulators" or something that imitates a caddis. The icy cold Brook Trout filled streams that weave throughout the region will leave you wanting to see what may be around that next bend and have you itching to get back. Words by: Aidan Yoder Images by: Devin Sawtelle

Have you ever tried to make your business appear more professional, or thought it is lacking something? Instagram Highlights are a great way to add a little something to your profile! They are one of the first things people see under your bio when they land on your page. Learn What Instagram Highlights are, how to use them, how to change their names, covers, and more tricks to make your Instagram more appealing! 1.) What Are Instagram Highlights? In comparison to stories that last for 24 hours, Instagram Highlights last forever (until you delete them). This feature allows you to keep stories forever, and make collections of past feed posts, stories, and more! Here you can see the way @reel.tales on Instagram uses Highlights as a way to introduce the profile. 2.) How To Create Instagram Highlights It is very easy to create an Instagram Highlight. Follow these quick steps to add a highlight to your profile! There are two ways to add an Instagram Highlight. While your story is still active (within 24 hours of posting it) From your archived stories (after 24 hours of posting it) Creating Instagram Highlights from active stories Click on your story you just added Click on the "Highlight Icon" If you don't already have highlights, click "New" 4. Rename your highlight and click "add" 5. Go to your profile page and see it is the newest created highlight Creating Instagram Highlights from archived stories 1. From your profile, click the "menu bars" in the top right corner 2. Click on "Archive" 3. Select a past story you have posted and click on it 4. Click the "Highlight icon" 5. Follow steps from "Creating Instagram Highlights from active stories" 2.) Editing Your Highlight Cover Icon You want to make your Highlights an attractive part of your profile. Instead of a bland cover picture for your highlight, we will show you how to spice it up even more! 1. From your profile, click the Highlight you have just created 2. Click on "Edit highlight" 3. Click on "Edit cover" 4. Click on the "Image Icon" 5. Add any cover photo you would like 6. Read More below on how to use Canva (100% Free and easy tool for graphic design) 3.) Using Canva to Make a High Quality Instagram Highlight Cover If you don't have access to Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Affinity apps, we have a free substitute that works perfectly fine for this! Check out how to use Canva to create eye catching cover photos for your Highlights Here! 4.) Tricks to Keeping Your Highlights In The Order You Want Them When you add new stories to your an existing highlight, it will bring the highlight to the front of the row on your page. If you want to keep your highlights in a specific order, but still add stories to existing highlights, here's a way to get that done. Click on the Highlight you want to add your new picture to Add the picture to that highlight Now, go to the highlight you want to bring to the front of the row Add the newest story you have posted to the highlight The highlight will be brought to the front of the row Delete the picture off the highlight Your highlight stays at the front of the row!